It really wasn't that long ago that I wrote Beacon Hill & Plastic Grocery Bags: About Time!
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Americans use 84 billion plastic bags annually
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Americans use 84 billion plastic bags annually
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and this was announced --
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State Environmental Officials Announce Partnership with Supermarkets
to Cut Down on Disposable Bag Use
Initiative Encourages Disposable Bag Recycling, Supports Reusable Bag Trend
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) launched a joint initiative today with the supermarket industry to cut the number of disposable paper and plastic grocery bags distributed in Massachusetts by 2013.
MassDEP officials signed a memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA), an industry group representing more than 500 grocery stores, to kick off the statewide waste-reduction effort.
Each year, the typical Massachusetts grocery store distributes more than 1.5 billion paper and plastic bags. In many cases, these bags are used only once. A small percentage is recycled. But too often, bags become unsightly litter in communities and add to soaring waste disposal costs.
“The reduction, recycling and reuse of materials by residents and businesses is a top priority for MassDEP, as we work to minimize the waste stream,” MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt said. “ Massachusetts supermarkets are partnering with us to significantly reduce waste and litter, and help consumers conserve natural resources. Cutting down on the number of grocery bags we use and throw away is something all of us can easily do.”
Under the agreement, MFA members will use a variety of methods to reduce the demand for disposable bags, such as offering reusable bags, providing customer incentives for reusing bags, improving customer access to in-store plastic bag recycling, and training staff to reduce wasteful distribution of bags.
“Reducing paper and plastic bag use in our state is not only good for the environment, but good for business,” said MFA President Christopher Flynn. “We expect this incentive-based, voluntary approach to maintain a balance between environmental stewardship and consumer choice.”
Flynn also noted that in tight economic times, stores can realize and pass along to customers a cost savings by distributing fewer disposable bags. Flynn said that a number of MFA members have already instituted aggressive programs to promote reduction of disposable bag waste, including locating on-site plastic bags recycling receptacles near store entrances or bottle and can redemption areas.
Nearly all Massachusetts supermarkets now offer recycling programs that collect plastic shopping bags, shrink wrap, and other plastic wrapping materials. Most of the plastic is recycled into consumer products such as plastic decking and lawn furniture.
Through its agreement with the state, MFA will provide new technical assistance materials and services to expand existing recycling efforts and help additional supermarkets get started. Previous voluntary initiatives between MassDEP and the trade group have resulted in innovative and nationally recognized methods for helping supermarkets recycle cardboard and shrink wrap and compost the food wastes they generate.
“For more than ten years, the supermarket industry has been a leader in demonstrating its commitment to waste reduction, recycling and composting in Massachusetts ,” Commissioner Burt said. “We hope other businesses will follow the lead of this major retail sector and take the initiative to also reduce their use of disposable bags.”
MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.
to Cut Down on Disposable Bag Use
Initiative Encourages Disposable Bag Recycling, Supports Reusable Bag Trend
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) launched a joint initiative today with the supermarket industry to cut the number of disposable paper and plastic grocery bags distributed in Massachusetts by 2013.
MassDEP officials signed a memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA), an industry group representing more than 500 grocery stores, to kick off the statewide waste-reduction effort.
Each year, the typical Massachusetts grocery store distributes more than 1.5 billion paper and plastic bags. In many cases, these bags are used only once. A small percentage is recycled. But too often, bags become unsightly litter in communities and add to soaring waste disposal costs.
“The reduction, recycling and reuse of materials by residents and businesses is a top priority for MassDEP, as we work to minimize the waste stream,” MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt said. “ Massachusetts supermarkets are partnering with us to significantly reduce waste and litter, and help consumers conserve natural resources. Cutting down on the number of grocery bags we use and throw away is something all of us can easily do.”
Under the agreement, MFA members will use a variety of methods to reduce the demand for disposable bags, such as offering reusable bags, providing customer incentives for reusing bags, improving customer access to in-store plastic bag recycling, and training staff to reduce wasteful distribution of bags.
“Reducing paper and plastic bag use in our state is not only good for the environment, but good for business,” said MFA President Christopher Flynn. “We expect this incentive-based, voluntary approach to maintain a balance between environmental stewardship and consumer choice.”
Flynn also noted that in tight economic times, stores can realize and pass along to customers a cost savings by distributing fewer disposable bags. Flynn said that a number of MFA members have already instituted aggressive programs to promote reduction of disposable bag waste, including locating on-site plastic bags recycling receptacles near store entrances or bottle and can redemption areas.
Nearly all Massachusetts supermarkets now offer recycling programs that collect plastic shopping bags, shrink wrap, and other plastic wrapping materials. Most of the plastic is recycled into consumer products such as plastic decking and lawn furniture.
Through its agreement with the state, MFA will provide new technical assistance materials and services to expand existing recycling efforts and help additional supermarkets get started. Previous voluntary initiatives between MassDEP and the trade group have resulted in innovative and nationally recognized methods for helping supermarkets recycle cardboard and shrink wrap and compost the food wastes they generate.
“For more than ten years, the supermarket industry has been a leader in demonstrating its commitment to waste reduction, recycling and composting in Massachusetts ,” Commissioner Burt said. “We hope other businesses will follow the lead of this major retail sector and take the initiative to also reduce their use of disposable bags.”
MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.
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This is a win-win for us all - we reduce the costs to the supermarkets, reduce the trash we either accumulate and recycle or dispose of [that our tax dollars pay for], or the trash bags that gets blown around by the wind that last forever in the trees.
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It made my day!
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Change your habits, reduce your trash and life is simpler!
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When I spoke with Alice Elwell, I explained that we have organized our grocery shopping to simplify it for ourselves -- shallow boxes (from the supermarket) for refrigerated foods, frozen freezer food goes into the reusable bags, shallow boxes for the pantry items (canned goods, juice, etc.). We buy in larger quantities to reduce store trips (and gas). It takes 10 minutes to put away and there's no "rubbish" of the trash bags to recycle/dispose of. Whatever works for you!
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We tuck several reusable bags between the front seats to take into other stores with us.
Try it! You might just find that it simplifies your life and reduces the volume of trash.
Next, maybe we can tackle JUNK MAIL!
8 comments:
It's a good beginning and hopefully will catch on.
Perhaps you can answer my question about the proper disposal of kitty litter since Trash pick-up in town will no longer accept used kitty litter wrapped in plastic bags. Thanks
Good question!
While I can't comment on town trash policy, you might try Litter Bugged for some options.
If that doesn't answer your question, there's a search feature at the top of the page. There was a lengthy list of articles pertaining to my search for "kitty litter."
I hope that's helpful.
If it isn't, please post again and I'll review other sources I use regularly.
Grist offers an email subscription that you might consider.
We have several friends who have enclosed outside areas where their cats can come and go to watch birds and use actual soil for their litter boxes. They merely continue to add soil to the enclosure.
My cats have a 'doggy door' in a window that I close at night that allows them outside to a secured enclosure that's 9 by 8 feet. It's the best thing we ever did! They chatter at the birds, bring in an occassional mouse, get some excercise and dig in the dirt. Best of all is that I know they're safe.
We've never used litter, but appreciate the comments about environmental solutions.
Missing in this discussion is the failure of towns to act to reduce trash. Maybe the plastic bags are a big issue. When I look at what we're discarding your blog about junk mail made us curious. We sorted the junk mail we were recyling which is a nuisance because we remove and shred our personal information so it goes no further. To get rid of junk mail was costing us time.
We weighed the recycling and it came to almost 30 pounds a month. When we got it every day it didn't seem like much. That 41 pounds campaign doesn't begin to address the problem. We're getting about 4 pounds each month now and can't stop it. There's a stupid coupon company - white envelope with yellow ribbon across the front that we emailed and can't get rid of. The others stop eventually including valpak. The next step should be to mandate that junk mailers provide DO NOT MAIL addresses so we can get rid of them.
Middleboro has a DPW head who doesn't think recycling works so we can't expect him to do anything. Good thing he's retiring. When the trash bills are mailed they should provide ideas to reduce the volume.
This is the dumbest thing I heard. Why can't people do what makes sense?
Is reusing plastic bags that safe? What about poisoning from chicken, beef juice, etc?
There doesn't seem to be anyone mentioning reusing plastic bags.
There are canvas or fabric bags that can be purchased that can be reused.
Locally, Hannaford's offers a 5 cent credit on your grocery bill if they provide a bag for your groceries.
At some point, towns or stores may charge a premium or towns may ban them.
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